Looking for top picks from home network products? Here are some great options to consider.
Looking for top picks from home network products? Here are some great options to consider.
Hello everyone, I’m working on setting up a home network for my new house, which is still under construction. For both of us who work remotely, a stable and fast connection is essential. Online gaming is also a priority. Here are some key details about the property: The house is about 4800 sq ft, with a 600Mbps internet connection. We’ll be using Cat 6 cabling throughout, including Ethernet ports—nine in total, three on the main floor, two on the upper floor, and four in the basement. Network configuration will involve a Plex server and other networking gear in the mechanical room. My main concerns are: Wireless coverage – I need seamless Wi-Fi throughout the house, avoiding separate networks from previous issues. I’d like a single router that manages everything. Questions: How many wireless access points should I install? What router would be best for ease of use and reliability? Handling an attached apartment is important; should I keep it separate or create a guest network? Can routers differentiate networks using different Ethernet ports? Do I need a switch to support all nine ports? Should I consider Wi-Fi 6 versus Wi-Fi 7? Is there a router option that supports Wi-Fi 7 and is affordable? My networking knowledge is limited, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ahead!
1. wireless access points rely on factors like building height, room layout, and wall thickness.
2. router choice isn't clear—typically an ISP provides one. For tighter control, consider a managed switch with PoE. Turn off most ports on the ISP router and hide the Wi-Fi network name for safety.
3. attached apartment benefits from networking via a PoE-managed switch.
4. extra gear depends on your location; many devices still lack full Wi-Fi 7 support, so Wi-Fi 6 seems reasonable now.
If it's a flat for a family member—such as a grandparent living nearby but separately—this seems ideal. However, if you're renting it out, ideally the ISP should add a dedicated line for the flat, allowing the tenant to have their own connection. I have a strong sense that this isn't what you think it means.
You find yourself in a different environment with a house of this size and setup. A straightforward large box isn't the answer here. It's not unusual for people to suggest a Ubiquiti Unifi system, and my advice is the same. This is the only option I see. Also, are you really planning to run single wires to certain spots? You should plan ahead: at least 2 to 3 runs per room is necessary, except perhaps for the laundry area. Still, sending a single wire to the laundry might make sense. Besides, think about where you want access points and how cables should reach them. Usually ceiling mounts are standard, but Unifi now offers wall units, though their range may be more limited than ceiling models. If you share a floor plan or layout, we can offer a clearer solution. For reliable Wi-Fi across nearly 5,000 square feet plus outdoor coverage, expect to invest around a few thousand dollars. And honestly, Wi-Fi 6E is a solid baseline—its speed and low latency are impressive improvements.
Hi buddy, Firstly, I would say its easy to over spec a home network. You really don't need much in the way of fancy hardware. A couple of years ago, like yourself, I had the opportunity to completely rewire my house during a full refurb so below is kinda what I did. For reference, I like in the UK, in a rural area and my house is 350ish years old with the walls lined with the bones of the dead so wifi has always been an issue. My main internet feed comes comes into the ground floor living room as it has the most devices in any single room. (TV, AVR, Wifi Booster, Shield, Gaming PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, SkyQ ISP Router) In this room I also have a 12 port Netgear PoE switch. Nothing fancy, just a regular unmanaged switch. I could have gone for a 24 port switch to allow for growth but these units tend to come with active cooling in the way of fans and can make a bit of a racket so I decided not to bother. The SkyQ Router has 4 x 1Gbs ports, 1 of which connects to the Gigabit Internet box on my wall, the 2nd is plumbed into an Amazon Eero Pro 6E and the 3rd goes into the 12 port Netgear. 6 local living room devices wire into the the 12 port switch, then 5 runs of cat6 wire from the remaining ports on the switch to another living area, 3 bedrooms, an office and an out-building (underground). Each room then has its own 5 or 6 port switch to serve the devices in that room. Don't worry about stacking switches. Its not really 'best practice' to stack switches but its unlikely your network will have the traffic I then have 2nd Eero in the outbuilding that also serves the garden, a 3rd Eero in the 2nd living area and a 4th to help with coverage on the upstairs level for bedrooms and the office. My Home server running Plex, Pi-Hole and a few other bits and bobs runs 24/7 in the office. In summary, the above layout has not issues with keeping both the internal 1Gbs networks and ISP 1Gbs connection saturated. I do however, still have issues with Wifi. The Eero's are much better than the SkyQ mini boxes and the Netgear Orbi's that I've used in the past but I still have issues with client devices like phones and tablets not wanting to roam / connect to the strongest signal. I don't know why but they all want to hang on the weakest signal for dear life....
I fully agree with the earlier poster’s suggestion about Ubiquiti – nobody else matches that perfect mix of ease of use and setup flexibility. Planning VLANs with rules for different groups like your family and IoT devices? Definitely straightforward. Adding PoE cameras is a breeze. Configuring a VPN for your NAS? Simple enough. All in a way someone like me can handle without too much trouble.
I appreciate your ideas! Considering the Orbi 770 Series and the NETGEAR 8-Port 2.5GB Switch sounds like a solid setup. Since it's a new build, you have flexibility with the Ethernet configuration now. With plans to renovate the basement next year, you'll have more time to adjust things later. A mesh network with an access point on each floor seems ideal for your needs. Your wife will need her own office connection, and the entertainment center will run independently. I’m not too worried about coverage beyond the house, but the 8000 sq ft rating should handle larger spaces well. Regarding guest networks, assigning a port to that would be straightforward.
Also consider the Orbi 770 Series and the NETGEAR 8-Port 2.5GB switch. Let me know if you need more details!